Barrowbonegate

Torchwood and Doctor Who star John Barrowman is notorious for being a bit cheeky, a bit naughty, often downright lewd – and his nature got the better of him it seems as he exposed himself live on air recently.

While interviewed for an online feature for The Switch, Barrowman saw fit to show off his manhood – while a webcam (thankfully covering only the upper half of his body) covered the episode.

Cleared for broadcast on Sunday, the Annie Mac and Nick Grimshaw show has caused renewed decency criticism to be aimed at the BBC following the Manuelgate affair.

Grimshaw said to him: "You’re famous, we’re told, for getting your willy out in interviews. Is this going to happen today? Should Annie be careful?"

Barrowman asked: "Is the webcam on?"

When he was told it was, he responded: "Alright. I’ll get it out for you then, no problem."

Inexplicably given the recent circumstances, the broadcast was cleared by BBC producers and was available officially on YouTube for a while.

As a family entertainer and hero to children, it was a very bad example to set by Mr Barrowman – and sensibly he isued his own apology:

‘I apologise for any offence I have caused. I was joining in the light-hearted and fun banter of the show and went too far.

‘I was wrong to do this and it will never happen again.’

‘I really appreciate the great support I have received from the BBC over the last few years and would never intentionally do anything to undermine the integrity of the corporation.’

A long-term Doctor Who fan, Christian grew up watching the show and has early memories of the Graham Williams era. His favourite stories are Inferno, The Seeds of Doom and Human Nature (although The Empty Child, Blink and Utopia all come close). When he’s not bossing around the news team, Christian is a freelance writer specialising in mobile technology and domestic computing, and enjoys classic rock, cooking and spending time in the countryside with his wife and young children. You can find him on Twitter, Facebook and Google+.